{"id":1723157,"date":"2026-01-28T21:13:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1723157"},"modified":"2026-01-28T21:13:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T18:13:44","slug":"the-monastic-aesthetic-is-a-major-2026-interiors-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1723157","title":{"rendered":"The Monastic Aesthetic Is a Major 2026 Interiors Trend"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Homes<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s a Religion: The Monastic Aesthetic Shaping 2026 Interiors<\/h1>\n
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By <\/span>Hannah Coates<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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A bedroom at H\u00f4tel du Couvent in Nice.<\/span>Photo: Courtesy of H\u00f4tel du Couvent<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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You don\u2019t have to be religious to adopt the principles behind one of 2026\u2019s most notable interior design trends: a turn towards the monastic. From candle sconces and limewashed walls to stained glass and rustic wood, peaceful yet characterful spaces are top of the wish list for the year ahead.<\/p>\n

Howard Byrom, founder of Society Antiques\u2014who himself owns a former Methodist chapel\u2014sums the aesthetic up nicely. \u201cSimplicity is key, along with natural, unfussy materials. It\u2019s utilitarian rather than performative. Native and close at hand rather than exotic, with soft furnishings kept to a minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trend is perhaps best exemplified by destinations such as H\u00f4tel du Couvent, a restored 17th-century convent in Nice. With simple wooden beds dressed in creamy linens, stone archways, and plaster reliefs hung above beds, it offers a modern interpretation of traditional monastic life\u2014pared-back and luxurious, rather than cold and echoing. Byrom also mentions the Edwin Lutyens-designed Castle Drogo kitchen in Devon, UK, as a great example.<\/p>\n

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A bathroom at H\u00f4tel du Couvent in Nice.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Photo: Courtesy of Hotel du Couvent<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The sculptor Emily Young lives in a former monastery in southern Tuscany, which she\u00a0bought from a family friend after years of careful restoration. \u201cThe early 1600s architecture was strong and graceful, and the acoustics glorious,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

While the space is filled with books, paintings, a piano, and an array of plants, restraint is central. \u201cThe simple approach always works best here,\u201d she says, noting that for all of its austerity, it is as calm and tranquil a space as they come.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench takes a darker, more gothic approach. Her home features a large soot-blackened stone fireplace, religious iconography, and vaulted, beamed ceilings. Sparse and deliberately \u201ccold,\u201d in her own words, it proves that the monastic look is versatile.<\/p>\n

6 tips for building a monastic space at home<\/h2>\n

If you live in a cavernous house with a generous fireplace, you\u2019re already halfway there. But even without monastic bones, there are ways to emulate the aesthetic:<\/p>\n

Try bare floorboards or stone floors<\/div>\n

Stone floors, long favoured in monastic buildings for their durability and use of local materials, remain a timeless choice underfoot. In Young\u2019s home, original brick and stone flooring runs throughout. \u201cFailing stone floors, bare floorboards will do,\u201d says Byrom\u2014a look that\u2019s often more accessible. Opt for reclaimed oak or pine: woods that have lived a life and bear the marks and imperfections of age.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A bedroom designed by James Thurstan Waterworth.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Photo: Courtesy of James Thurstan Waterworth<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Incorporate rustic wood and natural textures<\/div>\n

Wood is one of 2026\u2019s biggest interior trends\u2014and central to the monastic look. \u201cThink sycamore, oak, or pine tables with tops three times thicker than they need to be,\u201d says Byrom. \u201cScrubbed, of course.\u201d He points to an early Georgian oak prep table, currently on sale on his website, as a perfect example: it was made for gathering around. \u201cYou can get lost in the colours and swirls of the grain,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Seating should feel honest and tactile: rush seats, elm carved into generous contours, or the taut plywood of a bentwood chair all work well. And for bonus points, an antique pew can make for excellent seating around a dining table or in hallways.<\/p>\n

Beyond furniture, texture is key. Waterworth favors \u201creally big, chunky linen sofas and armchairs, linen drapery in bedrooms, and woven rugs to soften the space.\u201d Antiques layered into a comfortable, practical palette help strike the balance between austerity and warmth.<\/p>\n

Paint your walls chalky tones<\/div>\n

When it comes to paint, neutrality with depth is essential. According to the decorator Alex Glover of Austin James: \u201cChalky, powdery tones lend themselves to architectural spaces and provide a calm backdrop to other leading features, whether that\u2019s stained glass windows, limestone architraves, or vaulted ceilings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Byrom is a fan of limewash for its timeworn sensibility, while Young\u2019s walls are painted in soft off-white calcio, with original hues\u2014pale pinks and warm honey tones\u2014still visible in places. \u201cThey\u2019re earthy tones that reflect the outdoors,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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A room at Masseria Pistoia, designed by James Thurstan Waterworth.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Photo: Martin Morrell<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A good reference point is Rose Uniacke\u2019s Pimlico home, where distemper-painted walls, grand archways, and steel detailing create a quietly monastic feel without any religious literalism.<\/p>\n

Experiment with stained glass<\/div>\n

Stained glass is enjoying a major revival, with Google searches rising by over 5,000% in the last month alone. Waterworth recently incorporated a striking stained glass panel into a Portuguese project, spanning the width of an otherwise more contemporary interior.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt offers privacy while creating a beautiful play of light,\u201d he explains of the detail, which took its cues from a nearby cathedral. \u201cDepending on the time of day, a variety of blue and purple tones are reflected around the space, completely changing its atmosphere.\u201d He worked with local artisans outside of Porto on the design.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Sophie Rowell of C\u00f4te de Folk recently restored original stained glass doors in a London pantry\u2014a lively, modern, and thoroughly atheistic take on the trend.<\/p>\n

Add frescoes or murals<\/div>\n

Traditional frescoes\u2014such as those in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo\u2014are also being reinterpreted for contemporary interiors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn modern spaces, I\u2019d focus on the background elements,\u201d says Glover. \u201cClouds, soft horizons, or bordered foliage. Even simple Greek keys where the wall meets the ceiling can nod to the Renaissance without overwhelming the room.\u201d Wallpaper versions, such as Schumacher\u2019s Cloud Toile, are another way to achieve a similar effect.<\/p>\n

The finishing touches<\/div>\n

Wall-mounted candle sconces are synonymous with monastic spaces, once used to light cloisters and chapels in lieu of electricity. Today, they provide soft, atmospheric lighting and a sense of history. Look for wrought iron, brass, or bronze versions via antiques dealers, Etsy, or eBay.<\/p>\n

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A candlestick from Oculus London.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Photo: Richard Round Turner<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Giltwood pricket sticks\u2014large ecclesiastical candlesticks\u2014are another of Waterworth\u2019s favourites, as are miniature wall shelves for candles, flowers, or small sculptures. Pieces made of wrought iron also make for great additions, and can be juxtaposed with warm, welcoming, and layered interiors for a subtle statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

Source URL: http:\/\/vogue.com\/article\/monastic-interiors-trend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Homes It\u2019s a Religion: The Monastic Aesthetic Shaping 2026 Interiors By Hannah Coates January 28, 2026 A bedroom at H\u00f4tel du Couvent in Nice.Photo: Courtesy of H\u00f4tel du Couvent You don\u2019t have to be religious to adopt the principles behind one of 2026\u2019s most notable interior design trends: a turn towards the monastic. From candle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,50],"class_list":["post-1723157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-vogue-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1723157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1723157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1723157\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1723157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1723157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1723157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}